Baby Sleep Regressions: What Is Happening and What Helps
BabyProduct Team · 7 May 2026
What a regression actually is
A regression is usually developmental progress showing up at night. New skills — rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling up, standing, talking — take up processing capacity and get rehearsed at 2 a.m.
The name is misleading. Your baby has not gone backwards; they have changed, and the old sleep pattern no longer fits.
Common timings
Parents most often report disruption around four months, then somewhere between eight and ten months, and again around eighteen months and two years.
These are patterns, not a schedule. Plenty of babies skip some entirely and others follow no recognisable timetable at all.
What tends to help
Keep the routine steady even when the sleep is not — the predictability is what your baby has to hold on to. Give plenty of daytime practice with the new skill, so it is less compelling at midnight.
Watch that daytime naps have not quietly drifted. An overtired baby sleeps worse, not better, and a nap that has crept too late costs you the evening.
Avoid building new habits you cannot sustain
In the middle of a rough fortnight it is tempting to introduce whatever settles them fastest. Be a little careful with anything you would not want to repeat nightly for months.
Comfort your baby — they need it. Just try not to create a routine that only works if you do a specific complicated thing every time.
When it is not a regression
Sudden night waking can also be teething, illness, hunger during a growth spurt, or a room that is too hot or too cold. Check the simple physical explanations first.
If your baby seems unwell, is not feeding, or something feels wrong to you, contact your doctor. Sleep advice is not a substitute for a medical opinion.